page_title: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet
section_title: Leon Panetta (2011–2013)
hierarchical_section_title: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet / Cabinet / Secretary of Defense / Leon Panetta (2011–2013)
caption_attribution_description: English: Official portrait of Leon Panetta as United States Secretary of Defense
context_page_description: The President of the United States has the authority to nominate members of the cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under Article II, Section II, Clause II of the United States Constitution.
  This page documents the nomination and confirmation process for cabinet nominees of Barack Obama's administration. They are listed in order of creation of the cabinet position.
context_section_description: On April 18, 2011, Leon Panetta, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, was nominated to replace Gates. On June 21, 2011, the United States Senate confirmed Panetta in a 100–0 vote. He took office on June 30, 2011.
caption: Leon Panetta
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